Printing machine



Sept 27, 1949- J. cHALMERs 2,483,260

PRINTING MACHINE Filed Sept. 22, 1944 7 Sheets-Sheet l 27, 1949. .LCHALMERS 2943,2@0

PRINTING MACHINE Filed Sept. 22. 1944 '7 Sheets-Sheet 2 sept. 27, V1949.

J. vczl-fiALMERs 2,483,260

PRINTING MACHINE Filed Sept. 22, 1944 7 Sheets-Sheet 3 27, i949. J. cHALMERs 2,483,260 PRINTING MACHINE Filed sept. 22, 1944 7 Sheets-Sheet 4 I SePt 27, 1949. J. CHALMERS 2,483,260

PRINTING MACHINE Filed sept. 22, 194.4 7 sneetsshee-n 5 I I I ll 4. i I

Y l c l Sept. 27, 1949.- J. cHALMERs 2,433,260 4 PRINTING MACHINE Filed Sept. 22, 1944 7 Sheets-Sheet 6 Sept. 27, 1949. J. cHALMERs 2,483,250'

PRINTING MACHINE Filed sept. 22, 1944 7 Sheets-Sheet 7 dw@ (5ML. @Mw

QL, o@ @3214 Patented Sept. 27, 1949 John Chalmers, Edinburgh, Scotland Application September 22,

In Great Brita 1944, Serial No. 555,239

in June 7, 1943 Section 1, Public Law 690, August 8, 1946 Patent expires June 7, 1963 3 Claims. (Cl. 101-324) This invention relates to improvements in printing machines and has for an object to provide an improved machine which will be capable of performing fine printing on non-smooth materials such as, for example, rough surface papers, leathers, metal and woven fabrics such as canvas, velvet, silk, Yand other materials.

It is known to use in printing processes a plurality of flat beds, one of which receives impressions from another by means of a transfer roller, and for this purpose it has been proposed to arrange two beds at an angle to one another. According to the present invention, printing is ef fected from a slab, to which the impression is conveyed from a block by means of a transfer roller which is lifted and laid as required.

A printing machine according to the invention includes a frame, a carriage or saddle mounted to perform reciprocatory movements on the frame and equipped with inking rollers and with a transfer roller, and a platen member which is movable in timed relation with the reciprocation of the carriage.

Detachably tted to the frame is a chase or the like for holding a printing block or blocks or the equivalent, hereinafter referred to simply as the block.

Fitted also to the frame is a printing slab of rubber or other material of which the ink-taking surface is coplanar with the printing surface of the block.

A driven rotary inking drum or other inking means is provided at the end of the frame adjacent to the chase, said drum or the like being engageable by the inking rollers so that these rollers may take up ink from the drum or the like.

The platen member is co-.operative with the printing slab and is adapted to support a sheet of material to be printed, while said sheet is pressed by the platen member into intimate contact with the slab, sheets being fed to and removed from the platen member by any convenient means.

A cycle of operation of the machine is conveniently explained as follows: l

The carriage is located at starting position with the inking rollers rotating in contact with the inking drum. The transfer roller is disposed in advance of the inking rollers with respect to the forward stroke of the carriage. While the inking rollers are taking up ink, and the carriage is stationary, the platen member approaches the slab, presses a sheet of material into contact with the slab and thus takes or prints an impresduring which the transfer roller is maintained y lifted clear of the printing surfaces of the block and of the slab. In the forward stroke of the carriage the inking rollers apply ink to the block but are lifted clear of the slab. When the carriage attains the end of the forward stroke the transfer roller is dropped so that, in the return stroke, the transfer roller, rolls first upon the surface of the slab then upon the surface of the block and, when the carriage attains the end of its return stroke or starting position, the transfer roller is lifted. In the said return stroke the inking rollers again roll upon the block and finally come to rest in contact with the inking drum. i There is thus completed a cycle of operations during which an ink impression of the block (negative) upon the transfer roller (positive) is transferred by the transfer roller to the slab (negative), and during which an impression has been printed from the slab by the platen member.

The transfer roller is carried by a spindle provided with two gear wheels disposed one at each end of the roller and meshing with a pair of gear rack bars disposed one along each side of the path of the carriage, these racks being attached to the side gables of the frame. The racks are provided with longitudinal grooves which form guide grooves for end flanges of the transfer roller, which latter is thus held against axial displacement. The spindle ris journalled in bearings carried by rods slidably mounted in the carriage and inuenced by springs in the direction to maintain the transfer roller pressed against the surface of the block and of the slab. The ends of these rods remote from the transfer roller are engageable with cam bars slidably mounted in the carsion from the slab. and starts to recede from the riage and engageable, towards the ends of the traverse of the carriage, with adjustable stops mounted on the frame. Thus, in the operation of the machine, the transfer roller is lifted and laid as required. The inking rollers are similarly mounted in the carriage, but their lifting and laying movements are controlled by cam tracks which extend alongside the racks and which are tracked by wheels or discs mounted on the spindles of the inking rollers.

As will be understood, wlile the gear wheels of the transfer roller remain continuously in mesh with the racks, the depth of mesh is reduced when the transfer roller is lifted during each forward stroke of the carriage.

The carriage may be arranged to reciprocate vertically, or horizontally,

An illustrative embodiment of the invention will now be described with the aid of the a :ompanying drawings in which for convenience a small manually-operated printing machine is illustrated, although it is to be understood that the printing machine may be power-operated and may be of any size required and may in addition to the special features later to be described embody known features.

Fig. 1 illustrates a side view of a printing machine according to the invention partly broken away to lessen the Width of the figure, the parts in the figure being in the starting position of the machine.

Fig. 2 is a similar view to Fig. 1 with parts of the machine in another position of use i. e., with the roller carriage in its lowermost position and with the transfer roller in position for transferring an impression to the printing surface.

Fig. 3 is a similar View with parts in another position of use showing the platen advanced to press a sheet into contact with the printing surface.

Fig. 4 is a front view of the printing machine partly sectional, the plane of the section being through the lines IV-IV of Fig. 1.

Fig. 5 is a rear view of the printing machine with the ink duct and inking rollers removed.

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary side view and Fig. 1 a fragmentary front View, drawn to a larger scale of the roller carriage in the position it occupies in Fig. 2.

Fig. 8 is a diagrammatic View showing the drive.

Fig. 9 is a fragmentary perspective view, drawn to a larger scale, of a catch device, later to be referred to.

The same reference characters indicate corresponding parts in the several figures of the drawings.

Referring to the drawings, the frame Ill of the printing machine comprises two side members held in spaced relation by cross-bars indicated at II. I2 is a slideway located at the front of the frame III on which is mounted a carriage or saddle I3 adapted to perform reciprocatory movements on said slideway and being guided in said movements by bowls I4 running in grooves I2' formed in opposite sides of the slideway I2.

The carriage I3 is equipped with inking rollers I5, I6 and with a transfer roller I1. I8 is a platen member mounted for pivotal movement on a cross-rod II secured in the frame II), the platen member I8 being movable in timed relation with the reciprocation of the carriage I3 towards and away from a chase I9 detachably tted to the vertical side of the frame I6 between the slideways I2 for holding a printing block indicated at 2li, Fig. 4. '2l is a printing slab of rubber or other material also fitted in the chase adjacent to and below the block 20, the ink-taking surface of the slab 2I being co-planar vwith the printing surface of the block 20. The vertical centre of the axis II about which the platen member I8 pivots is co-planar with the face of the printing slab 2| whereby to ensure that the platen when pressed against the printing slab exerts an even overall pressure on the printing surface.

22 is a driven rotary inking drum journalled in the upper part of the frame I0, the drum' 22 being engageable by the hiking rollers I5, I'6 so that these rollers may take up ink from the drum. 23 is an ink reservoir in which is rotatably mounted a doctor roller 24 adaptedfor intermittent turning movement in the working of the machine or for turning movement by hand. 25 is a further roller rotatably mounted in .hinged bearings 26 and adapted to be moved alternately into contact with the doctor roller 24 and with the inking drum 22 whereby to transfer ink from the reservoir 23 to the inking drum 22.

21, 28 are further rollers mounted in rolling contact with the'inking drum' 22 and also adapted to have a slight reciprocatory movement whereby to spread the ink evenly over the surface of the inking drum.

29 is a driving shaft journalled in bearings in the machine frame IIl. This shaft may be rotated by means of a crank-handwheel 30, or by power.

Fast on the driving shaft 29 is a gear pinion 3l meshed with a gear wheel 32 fast on a countershaft 33 journalled in the frame I0.

Also fast on the shaft 33 is a gear pinion 34 meshed with a gear wheel 35 fast on a further shaft 36, hereinafter referred to as a crank shaft, journalled in bearings in the frame IIl. The crank shaft 36 is furnished at opposite ends with cranks 31 each respectively connected by a pitman 38 to the platen member I8 whereby the platen member I8 may be moved towards and away from the frame I0 to press a sheet of material to be printed into intimate contact with the printing slab 2|.

The carriage I3 is reciprocated by means of a linkage actuated from the crank shaft 36 and including a shaft 39 rotatably mounted in the frame I0 and furnished at opposite ends with levers 40 fast on said shaft and connected by links 4I with the carriage I3. Also fast on the shaft 39 is a crank-arm 42 to which is connected at 43, a slide member 44 which embraces a bearing bush 45 on the crank shaft 36 and is also furnished with a bowl or cam follower 46 adapted for engagement with a cam 41 secured on the crank shaft 36.

Fast on the shaft 29 is a sprocket wheel 48 in driving connection by a chain 49 with a further sprocket wheel 50 fast on a shaft 5I jurnalled in the frame I0 a little below the inking drum 22 and furnished with a gear wheel 52 meshed with a further gear wheel 53 fast on a shaft 54 also journalled in the frame I0 above the shaft 5I, the gear wheel 53 being meshed with a gear wheel 55 fast on the axle 56 of the inking drum 22. Rotary motion is transmitted to the inking drum 22 from the driving shaft 29, by way of the sprocket wheels 48 and 50 and chain 49 and the train of gear Wheels 52, 53 and 55, as may be clearly seen in the diagram, Fig. 8.

The carriage I3 may be held in raised position, shown in Fig. 1, by a catch 51 on said carriage turnable into engagement with the frame Ill, see Figs. 4 and 9, said catch being released to put ihe riachine in the starting` position as shown in The inking rollers I5, I6 are respectively journalled in bearings 58, 59 each carried at the outer ends of rods 60, 6I slidably mounted in the side members of the carriage I3 and encircled by helical springs 62, 63 serving to maintain the inking rollers in contact with the surface of the inking drum 22 in one position of use and to cause said inking rollers to roll over the surface of the block 20 to ink said block as the carriage is moved in the working of the machine.

The transfer roller I1 is similarly journalled in bearings 64 carried at the outer ends of rods 65 slidably mounted in the side members of the carriage I3 and encircled by helical springs 66 whereby to maintain the transfer roller I1 pressed against the surface of the block 26 and the printing slab 2|.

The ends of the rods 65 remote from the transfer roller I1 are engageable with cam bars 61 slidably mounted in brackets 68 formed or provided on the rear of the carriage I3 and engageable, towards the end of the traverse of the carriage I3 with adjustable stops 69, 16 mounted on the frame I6, whereby inthe operation of the machine the cam bars 61 are made to slide in the brackets 68 to cause the transfer roller I1 to be moved away from or towards the front surface of the carriage I3 as the transfer roller is lifted or laid." The transfer roller I1 is caried by a spindle 1I provided with two gears .wheels 12 disposed one at each end of the roller and meshing with a pair of gear rack bars 13 disposed one along each side of the path of the carriage, the racks 13 being attached to the side gables of the frame I6. The racks 13 are provided with longitudinal grooves 14 which form guide grooves for end flanges 15 of the transfer roller, which latter is thus held against axial displacement.

As will be understood, while the gear wheels 12 of the transfer roller I1 remain continuously in mesh with the racks 13, the depth of mesh is reduced when the transfer roller is lifted during each forward stroke of the carriage I3.

The construction and action of the carriage I3 and its component parts may be clearly seen in Figs. 6 and 7 in which the carriage is shown in its lowermost position of traverse.

The inking rollers I5, I6 are also lifted and laid, but their lifting and laying movements are controlled by cam tracks 16 which extend alongside the racks 13 and which are tracked by wheels or discs 11, 18 mounted on the spindles of the respective inking rollers |5, I6.

When the carriage I3 is located at starting' position, see Fig. 1, the inking rollers-I5, I6 are rotating in contact with the inking drum 22 whereby to take up a supply of ink. The transfer roller I1 is in the "lifted position due to the action of theV cam rods 61 in pressing against the ends of the rods 66 to push the transfer roller I1 away from the surface of the carriage, see Fig. 1. In the initial stage of operation and while the carriage I3 is stationary and the inking rollers I5. I6 are taking up ink, the platen member I8 approaches the slab 2| under the action of the cranks 31 and pitman I8, the cam 41 meanwhile holding the carriage I3 in its raised position. As the platen I8 recedes from the slab 2|, the carriage I3 is moved downwards and the inking rollers I5, I6 roll over the surface of the block 26 and ink it. As the carriage I3' continues its downward movement, the ends of the rodsSI, 66 successively engage the cam tracks 16 and force the inking rollers I6, I outwards so that they are clear of the surface of the printing slab 2|, see Fig. 6.

As the carriage reaches the end of its downward traverse, the cam rod 61 meets the stop 16 and is slid upwards in the bracket 68, whereby the rod 65 is permitted to slide inwardly of the carriage to move the transfer roller I1 into the laid position, see Fig. 6.

In the return movement of the carriage the spring-influenced inking rollers I5, I6 resume their initial position and again roll over the surface of the block 26 to ink it, and the transfer roller I1 rolls first upon the surface of the slab 2|, then upon the surface of the block 26 and takes up a fresh inked "positive impression from said block. As the carriage I3 reaches the end of its upward traverse the cam rod 61 meets against and is forced down by the stop 69 whereby to push the transfer roller outwards into its lifted position, see Fig. '7. When ythe carriage is stationary and the inking rollers I5, I6 are taking up ink from the inking drum 22, the platen I6 again approaches the slab 2 I, see Fig. 3, and again recedes. When the carriage I3 again descends, the inking rollers I5, I6 again ink the block 26 and are subsequently lifted as before described. The transfer roller, which bears an inked positive impression, is again laid, see Figs. 2, 6 and 7, on the upward traverse of the carriage and transfers a negative impression to the printing slab 2|, see Fig. 4.

As the carriage I3 continues its upward movement, the inking rollers I5, I6 again in k the printing block 26 and the transfer roller again takes an inked impression from said block and is again lifted as the carriage I3 reaches the upper end of its traverse. While the carriage I3 is stationary, the platen I8 again approaches the printing slab 2| and a sheet of material on said platen is pressed into contact with the slab 2| and takes or prints an impression (positive) from the slab.

Briey, the carriage I3 commences its downward stroke, during which the transfer roller I1 is maintained lifted clear of the printing surfaces of the block and of the slab. In the downward stroke of the carriage the inking rollers I5, I6 apply ink to the block 26 but are lifted clear of the slab 2|. When the carriage attains the end of the downward stroke the transfer roller is laid, so that, in the return stroke, the transfer roller I1 rolls first upon the surface'of the slab 2|, then upon the surface of the block 26 and, when the carriage attains the end of its upward stroke or starting position, the transfer roller is lifted In the upward stroke the inking rollers I5, I6 again roll upon the block 26 and nally come to rest in contact with the inking drum 22. The platen advances and presses a sheet of material against the printing slab 2| to receive a print therefrom and recedes. Thus,

during each cycle of operation of the machine,

an ink impression of the block 26 (negative) upon the transfer roller I'i (positive) is transferred by the transfer roller I1 to the slab 2| (negative), and an impression is printed from the slab 2| by the platen member.

When the carriage I3 is in its raised position, the ink transferring roller 25 is held in contact with the doctor roller 24 by means of the lever 46 providing an abutment for a peg 19 projecting from a cranked arm 86 on the bracket 26 carrying the roller 25, see Fig. 1. As the carriage is traversed downwards, the peg 19 loses its abutment againstthelever 46 and the roller 25 is permitted to fall into contact with the inking drum 22, see Fig. 2, whereby to transfer a supply of ink thereto. As the carriage is traversed in the reverse direction, the lever 46 meets and moves the peg 19 whereby to move the roller 25 to initial position.

The rollers 21, 28, in addition to the rotary movement due to rolling contact with the inking drum 22, also partake of a slight reciprocatory movement in the direction of the width of the drum whereby to spread the ink evenly over the surfaces of the inking drum. This reciprocatory movement is transmitted in the following manner.

The axles of the roller 21, 28 are journalled in bearing blocks 3|, 82 each mounted in cranked arms 83, 84, respectively, projecting in opposite directions from a vertically disposed rod 85 mounted in brackets 86 on the frame I0. At its lower end the rod 85 is furnished with a cranked arm 81 furnished adjacent to its end with a pivotally mounted cam block 88 adapted for engagement in a cam-groove 89 fast on the shaft 54. As the shaft 54 is rotated, the cam 89 imparts movements to the cam block 88 to the extent of the throw of the cam groove whereby to turn the rod 85 and cause the cranked arms to impart a slight reciprocatory movement to the rollers 21, 28.

The rollers 21, 28 are yieldingly held in the bearing blocks 8l, 82 by spring-influenced pins 90, 9| mounted in the pivoted arms of brackets 92, 93 carried on the machine frame I0. The pins 90, 9| constitute quick-release means for facilitating removal of the rollers 21, 28, it being only necessary to slightly raise a pin against the iniiuence of the respective spring and to turn the pivoted arm to release the axle of the roller.

The platen member I8 is adjustable to regulate the pressure of the platen against the slab 2|.

A convenient means for adjusting the platen is illustrated at the right hand of Fig. 2. The platen I8 is mounted eccentrically as indicated at I8'; the pivot of theplaten is embraced by a yoke member 94 furnished with a spring-iniluenced pivoted hook member 95 adapted to engage by one end in the edge of the platen and having a handle at the opposite end. By releasing the catch 95 and turning the eccentric pivot I8', the pressure of the platen may be adjusted as desired.

The carriage may be arranged to reciprocate vertically, as shown, or horizontally, or otherwise.

Located between the platen I8 and the adjacent vertical side of the frame I is a "frisket of substantially known form comprising a bracket member 96 pivoted on the cross-bar II' and furnished at opposite ends with arms or ngers, one of which is indicated at 91, said frisket being normally held in inoperative position by a tension spring 98 connected at one end to the bracket 96 and at the opposite end to the adjacent crossbar II ofthe frame I0.

As the platen I8 moves towards the chase I9 to press a sheet of material to be printed against the printing slab 2|, the frisket is also moved forward to the position shown in Fig. 3, whereby the arms or fingers 91 are caused to lie onebn each side of the slideway I2 and in front of the sheet of material being printed.

On completion of the printing operation the platen I8 is moved away from the printing slab 2l lto initial position whereupon the frisket," under the influence of the spring 98, is returned to initial position the arms 91 llifting the printed material away from the printing slab 2| in known manner.

A machine as described is capable of performing ne printing on a large variety of materials either with a smooth or non-smooth surface, such as, for example, rough surface papers, leathers, wood, metal, cellulose film, and woven fabrics such as canvas, velvet, silk and other materials in colours or from half-tone blocks.

I claim:

1. In a printing machine including a frame, a printing chase fixed on said frame having a printing block and a flat resilient bed mounted therein with the printing surface of the block co-planar structure mounted on the frame for movement In x a plane parallel to the plane of the block and with the surface of the bed, a. reciprocal carrier the bed, a transfer roller and an inking roller mounted in series on said carrier and extending crosswise of the chase, the transfer roller and the inking roller being arranged on the carrier so that when the carrier is moved in one direction with respect to the frame the transfer roller proceeds the inking roller in passing in succession first over the block and then over the bed, means for imparting a reciprocating movement to the carrier to cause the transfer roller and inking roller to pass over the block and bed in succession in one direction and then in the opposite direction, means normally urging said rollers into contact with the block and bed as they are moved thereover, means for holding the transfer roller out of contact with the block and bed when the carrier is moved in a direction to first traverse the block and then the bed with the transfer roller, means arranged to permit contact of the transfer roller with the bed and block when the carrier is moved in the opposite direction whereby the transfer roller applies an impression to the bed and then takes up a fresh impression from the block, means for permitting the inking roller to contact the block to ink it when the carrieris moved in either direction, and means for maintaining the inking roller out of contact with the bed as the carrier is reciprocated.

2. A printing machine as claimed in claim l in which the transfer roller is mounted on spaced spring-urged rods, a gear on each end of the transfer roller, a pair of spaced racks mounted on the frame with which the gears mesh respectively, whereby the transfer roller is rotated in the reciprocatory movement of the carrier, and in which the carrier is provided with cam bars engaging the spring-urged rods for lifting and laying the transfer roller, and stops located in the frame for actuating the cam bars at the ends of the stroke of said carrier.

3. A printing machine as claimed in claim 1, in which the frame is provided with a slideway for the carrier, said slideway including camtracks, and in which the inking roller is provided with an arbor mounted in spring-inuenced bearings in the carrier, wheels on said arbor bearing on said cam-tracks, said inking roller being lifted and laid externally during the reciprocation of said carrier by means of said cam-tracks.

JOHN CHALMERS.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 117,219 Stuart July 18, 1871 424,851 Bradford Apr. 1, 1890 547,409 Banta et al Oct. 8, 1895 606,891 Klotz July 5, 1898 632,322 Orloif Sept. 5, 1899 819,157 Mowbray May 1, 1906 912,727 Pinkham Feb. 16, 1909 914,531 Thomson Mar. 9, 1909 981,364 Bigelow Jan. 10, 1911 1,391,711 Adams Sept. 27, 1921 1,495,172 Gondek May 27, 1924 1,537,979 Wright May 19, 1925 1,715,712 Koppe June 4, 1929 2,076,177 Dollahite Apr. 6, 1937 2,101,705 Eaton Dec. 7, 1937 

